Methods and apparatus for correction of urinary and gynecological pathologies including treatment of male incontinence and female cystocele

• US 6,382,214 B1
• Filed: 04/22/1999
• Issued: 05/07/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 04/24/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Boston Scientific Scimed (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Original Assignee: American Medical Systems Incorporated (Endo International PLC)
• Inventors: Globerman, Oren, Beyar, Mordechay, Raz, Shlomo
• Primary Examiner(s): Isabella, David J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): CAMPEN, KELLY SCAGGS
• Application Number:
  US09/296,735
• Time in Patent Office: 1,111 Days
• Field of Search: 128/898, 128/897, 128/899, 623/23.64, 623/23.65, 623/23.66, 600/37, 600/29, 600/30, 600/31
• US Class Current: 128/898
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/0401 Suture anchors, buttons or pledgets, i.e. means for attaching sutures to bone, cartilage or soft tissue; Instruments for applying or removing suture anchors A61B17/0642 takes precedence; fixation devices for tendons or ligaments A61F2/0811
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/06109 Big needles, either gripped by hand or connectable to a handle
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00805 Treatment of female stress urinary incontinence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0409 Instruments for applying suture anchors for applying suture clamps, clips or locks A61B2017/0488
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0417 T-fasteners
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/0045 Support slings

Abstract

Apparatus and methods for treatment of male incontinence and a method for female cystocele repair are disclosed in which a sling material is positioned between the descending rami of the pubic bone. In such an operation a “hammock-like” sling material is positioned below the urethra in males, or below the posterior bladder wall in the case of cystocele in females.

Claims

1. A method for treatment of male incontinence comprising:

securing a sling material between a descending rami of a pubic bone by use of at least one bone anchor located in said pubic bone; and

,

locating said sling material below a urethra.

2. A method for treatment of male incontinence according to claim 1, wherein said sling material is synthetic material, autologous or cadaveric fascia.

3. A method for treatment of male incontinence according to claim 1 further comprising positioning an inflatable device between said sling material and said urethra to provide desired compression of said urethra, said device being anchored to right and left descending pubic rami.

4. A method for treatment of male incontinence according to claim 3 wherein said positioning of an inflatable device further comprises inserting a needle percutaneously through a perineal area, inflating said inflatable device with fluid passing through said needle, and adjusting a volume and said desired compression of said inflatable device.

5. A method for treatment of male incontinence according to claim 4 further comprising selectively inflating said fluid inside said inflatable device to adjust said volume and said desired compression of said inflatable device.

6. A method for treatment of male incontinence according to claim 4 further comprising selectively reducing said fluid inside said inflatable device to adjust said volume and said desired compression of said inflatable device.

7. A method for treatment of male incontinence according to claim 3 wherein said sling material is a component of said inflatable device.

8. A method for treatment of male incontinence according to claim 3 wherein said sling material and said inflatable device are an integral unit.

9. A method for treatment of male incontinence according to claim 1, further comprising measuring urethral resistance and adjusting the tension of said sling material to obtain a desired level of urethral resistance.